"Unleashing the Power: The Race to Master Evolution"

1 min read
Source: Quanta Magazine
"Unleashing the Power: The Race to Master Evolution"
Photo: Quanta Magazine
TL;DR Summary

Scientists are now shifting their focus from predicting evolution to controlling it. While artificial selection has allowed humans to selectively breed plants and animals with desirable traits, the goal now is to exert direct control over the reproductive process at the molecular level. Techniques like directed evolution and counterdiabatic driving have shown promise in steering evolution towards predetermined goals, such as developing more efficient enzymes or treating certain strains of malaria parasites. However, the technical challenges and ethical considerations surrounding evolutionary control remain substantial, as they intersect with issues related to genetically modified organisms and embryo selection in humans. Ultimately, the ambition to fully control evolution may underestimate the complexity and caprice of biological evolution.

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